Advancing nature-based solutions by leveraging Engineering With Nature® strategies and landscape architectural practices in highly collaborative settings

Abstract

Abstract The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)'s Engineering With Nature® (EWN®) initiative consistently promotes the use of collaboration for identifying innovative, nature-based solutions (NBS) that lead to more resilient communities and water-based infrastructure. In recent years, EWN researchers, in partnership with landscape architects (LAs) affiliated with the Dredge Research Collaborative (DRC), have championed an innovative, collaborative strategy that offers traditional planners an opportunity to participate in visioning exercises during the initial phases of coastal storm risk management projects. This has resulted in the identification, development, and incorporation of design concepts that prioritize NBS and the placement of natural and nature-based features (NNBF). These concepts, and their development process, have been documented in reports for the use of both the participating planners and other audiences interested in innovative NNBF. Upon observing these favorable outcomes, it has become clear that the integration of disciplines—landscape architecture, applied science, and engineering—has increased our ability to process, utilize, and communicate complex information. Both groups (i.e., DRC's LAs and EWN engineers and scientists) have considerable experience related to infrastructure design and performance; they elucidate ways to achieve functional engineering criteria while also maximizing ecological value and/or promoting more recreational opportunities. However, this partnership also produces a complementary set of uniquely acquired skills and expertise, which advances the development of NBS through accelerated and more meaningful communications. This study will offer insight into the partnership, collaborative techniques, and resulting products that have fostered innovation as well as advocacy for more sustainable infrastructure. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:108–114. © 2021 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA. KEY POINTS The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)'s Engineering With Nature® (EWN®) initiative uses collaborative settings to identify innovative, nature-based solutions (NBS) to produce more resilient communities and water-based infrastructure. Collaborative work within the science, engineering, and landscape architectural (LA) communities are jointly implementing infrastructure projects that incorporate EWN/LA practices to achieve environmental and social benefits beyond intended engineering project functions. Both LAs and EWN engineers and scientists are leveraging their experiences related to infrastructure design and performance to meet functional engineering criteria while also maximizing ecological value and promoting more recreational opportunities. Such collaborations advance the identification of NBS through accelerated and more meaningful communications that are being implemented at various spatial scales.

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